Lazer Brody's Blog, page 350

"O Chanukah" - Jewgrass style

Chanuka starts this evening at sundown; we usher our joyous holiday in by lighting the first candle.

My beloved little brother Robbie Zev, formerly of the "Sinai Mountain Boys", has an original "Jewgrass" (Jewish Bluegrass) way of singing when he lights his Chanukah candles. I know you'll get a kick out of this:

O Chanukah, by Robbie Zev Ludwick.

Above - Lazer's silver dreidel

Happy Chanukkah!

A spark of Holiness

Tonight, Wednesday night, we light the first candle of Chanuka.

A spark of of holiness can destroy a mountain of evil. Evil is usually bloated and overblown, basically lacking real power. Holiness is compacted, and oftentimes hidden from the eye. A spark of holiness totally deflates a giant blimp of evil, just as a spark from the blacksmith's anvil can burn an entire haystack. As long as a person is immersed in holiness, he or she has nothing to fear from evil - ever!

A spark of faith, a few psalms recited from the heart, a page of Gemara, an hour of personal prayer in the field, lighting Chanuka candles with the family - these are only a few examples of high-level holiness that can protect you and yours from any evil, and illuminate your soul.

Kedusha (holiness) is the weapon that enables the weak to defeat the strong, the few to overcome the many, and the righteous to outdistance the tyrannical. May we soon merit to see the lights of Chanuka in our rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem, amen. Happy Chanuka!

"Teshuvat HaMishkal": M's Story

I'm writing this letter to my fellow LazerBeams readers with a mixture of tears and smiles. You see, I've been a baalat teshuva (spiritually-awakened Jew - LB) for 15 years. I married the guy of my dreams 13 years ago, who splits his time between working and learning Torah. We have eight fantastic children, baruch Hashem, which we are raising here in Israel. We live in a terrific neighborhood with plenty of English speakers of similar backgrounds to ours. Those are a few of the many great reasons why I'm smiling.

So why the tears? 18 years ago, I was still a wild college student at the University of Colorado, a real party school where almost anything goes. That was before my teshuva and before my marriage. I became pregnant in my senior year. Sure, my boyfriend from back then was not serious and not Jewish. I had every logical and justifiable reason to abort. But still, I snuffed out a little soul. When I read what Rabbi Brody wrote yesterday, "Remember one thing – a pregnancy that's terminated is something that can't be corrected either in this world or in the next world," I broke down crying. Sure, back then I didn't know or did I care to know the Torah view on abortion. But my heart tells me that I must make amends, despite the mitigating circumstances from back then when I was an innocent violator, or what they call a tinoket shenishbeta.

Confused and beside myself, I called Rabbi Brody (who my husband and I hold as our spiritual guide) early this morning and asked him to clarify the "can't be corrected" phrase. He quoted Rebbe Nachman who says that there's never a need for despair and that Teshuva corrects everything. He told me that the teshuva must be "teshuvat hamishkal", in other words, its good must equally outweigh and offset the evil of the transgression. That was encouraging: I realized that if I do what I can to prevent others from having abortions, this will atone for the abortion I had.

I took the bus to Jerusalem, and went personally to the Breslev Israel office where I picked up 200 copies of the new CD, Children are Joy, which gives solid reasons for the the baby's right to live and against abortion. Even if only 1 out of 20 potential abortees pay attention to it, I could still be saving 10 little lives. I intend to make sure that this CD gets spread far and wide - I really feel a sense of mission, and the type of good feeling that you get when you know you're doing the right thing. The mere privilege of participating in the distribution of this CD is wiping away my guilt feelings and giving me inner peace. As soon as I got home from Jerusalem, I fed my kids then sat down to write this letter, hoping that it will help at least one other woman feel good about herself too. Were it not for Rebbe Nachman of Breslev and his disciples in this generation Rabbi Shalom Arush and Rabbi Lazer Brody, people like me could be haunted by our past. Not any more - thank G-d we have BT rabbis in this generation who spread Rebbe Nachman's encouragement, light, and hope. So that's my story. Happy Chanuka to all, "M" from Ramat Bet Shemesh in Israel

I really appreciate M's candid and moving letter, and wish her and her family every blessing in the Torah. You can order 100 Children are Joy CDs for distribution at cost price by clicking on this link. Don't wait until the Heavenly Court asks why you sat back and did nothing to stop the Holocaust of abortions. When we have compassion for Hashem's little babies, He has compassion for our little babies. Blessings always, LB

Yesterday, Rabbi Brody

72-Hour Lifeline

We've often mentioned how Hashem runs the world according to the ATFAT principle, ATFAT being the abbreviation of "A turn for a turn". When a person does his job according to Hashem's command of bringing life into the world, then Hashem does His job in helping that person live a normal and happy life. But, when a person constricts his or her ability of bringing life into the world – or snuffs a life out altogether, G-d forbid – then Hashem constricts and severs the type of abundance that a person needs to live a normal and happy life.

This is all food for thought for a woman – whether married or unmarried – that has suddenly discovered that she's pregnant and is contemplating terminating the pregnancy, G-d forbid.

Granted, discovering all of a sudden that a woman has an unplanned, unforeseen, unexpected, or out-of-wedlock pregnancy can bring her or those close to her to a near state of shock. One needs clear mental faculties to make responsible decisions. You can't make a sensible decision when panicking or when in a state of shock. Remember one thing – a pregnancy that's terminated is something that can't be corrected either in this world or in the next world. It doesn't matter whether you're single or married, whether you're sixteen of forty six – don't be impetuous, and don't rush to make a decision without carefully considering all the ramifications. An abortion has a profoundly negative effect on a woman, spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

Continue reading Your Lifeline in this week's issue of Breslev Israel web magazine.

Join the 72-Hour Lifeline and Help save lives!

Did you know that abortion has taken the lives of 4 million Jewish babies in the USA and Israel since 1970? Did you know that a Jewish baby is aborted every 10 minutes in Israel alone? If that's not a Holocaust, what is? Our brand new CD Children are Joy - the first to be recorded in Emuna Outreach's Ashdod studio - tells everything about abortions that the abortion clinics hide from you. It's the biggest mitzva in the world to spread this CD far and wide. You can use your maaser money, and I've arranged for you to get 100 CDs for the silly price of cost plus shipping. It's mindboggling to think that you can save a life and prevent an abortion for less than a dollar. For the next 72 hours, Breslev Israel's 100 CDs for Distribution will be the "Children are Joy" CDs at cost plus shipping. Order them at this link. By the way, if you don't yet have children of your own or if you have fertility problems, nothing in the world will invoke such Divine compassion for you as these CDs. How? If you help save Hashem's children, He will surely give you your own children.

Also this week in Breslev Israel magazine:

Jewish Thanksgiving by Rabbi Shalom Arush, Making the Darkness Glow by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Flickering Lights by Rav Kook and Camouflage by Rabbi Pinchas Winston are all new articles about Chanukah, which begins this coming Wednesday evening at sundown.

Interpreting Dreams by Rav Kook is an elaboration on this week's Torah portion, Miketz.

See also King Solomon's Justice by Rabbi Mordechai Kornfeld, Letter Filling by Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh, and Seeing the Light by Rabbi Erez Moshe Doron.

The War for the Soul, by Rivka Levy, is a must-read. Have a wonderful week and a Happy Chanukah!

The Power of Thanks

Dear Rabbi Lazer,

I was one of the 1200 people who heard you speak in the Achiezer Shul in Flatbush two weeks ago. You probably don't remember me, but I was one of the many people who came up to you after the lecture and asked for your blessings.

I told you that I've been out of work for 4 months already, and haven't been able to find a job. You said something that sounded really weird to me. You told me, "Good - now you have time to talk to Hashem with no excuses. Thank Him for being out of work." Honestly, I thought you were weird for telling me that. But, after talking to Hashem and thanking Him for three days in a row, I realized what you meant. The lecture was Sunday night, and I spoke to Hashem on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Thursday, I got a job offer at a better salary than what I was making before. I've been at the new job for a week already, and not only do I love it, but it seems really promising. I wrote this so that your readers could learn how powerful it is to thank Hashem, even under tough times. Thank you so much. Yisroel from Brooklyn

Lakewood Interview

Baruch Hashem, we're home safely to our beloved homeland of Eretz Yisrael. It was wonderful to see all of our cherished friends in Toronto, Ottawa, NYC, Lakewood, and Miami. We have another upcoming trip to the USA in the latter half of January, which tentatively includes NYC, Boston, maybe Baltimore and/or Philadelphia, and possibly the West Coast - Los Angeles and Las Vegas. If you're interested in arranging an emuna evening/lecture/Shabbaton for your community, please write
Yosef Nechama
, Breslev Israel's general director who handles all of my scheduling, in Israel and abroad.

Below is an interview from earlier this week in Lakewood, New Jersey. We thank Hashem for the success of this past trip, which included appearances in Lakewood, Yeshiva University, the main Chabad community in Miami, and many other wonderful places that occupied virtually every minute of our time. We thank everyone who contributed to help spreading emuna and to making our speaking tour such a memorable two and a half weeks. Shabbat Shalom!

You'll enjoy this:

Big Business, or Why ask a Rabbi?

Dear Rabbi Brody,

I'm an experienced retailer, and until 3 years ago, enjoyed a six-figure-plus income. Lately, whatever business I try turns sour. My neighbor, an orthodox Jew, suggested that I write you and ask for advice, a blessing, or both. I understand the blessing part, but why ask for your advice? Are you a Wharton MBA? Do you understand about business? What's this middle-ages gunk of running to a rabbi for every little thing? I'm not being a wise guy, I just want to know. Yours, Ralph from Detroit

Dear Ralph,

No, I don't have an MBA from Wharton, but I do understand about business. You see, I'm sort of a broker; I help people invest their lives in those endeavors that pay the best dividends. I also help arrange deals between small businessmen like you and between a major investor who'd be interested in helping you succeed. You see, as an orthodox rabbi, I represent a firm with unlimited capital and vast multinational resources. Therefore, people ask for my advice.

I don't solicit new business, and I certainly won't be upset if you don't seek my assistance, because I'm already up to my eyeballs in an ever-increasing pile of mail, that I try my best to answer the same day. To be honest, I'm not that bright, but the Chairman of the Board of the firm I represent likes my performance, so He almost always fulfills my requests. You see, the Chairman of the Board does whatever He wishes whenever He wishes; it's His power and brains that I depend on, not my own. So, in effect, when you ask me - or any other qualified rabbi who dedicates his life to helping people - a question, you're really getting the answer from the Chairman of the Board. That way, you end up succeeding in whatever you do. So, if your business has had tough times the last couple of years, you won't lose anything by asking a qualified rabbi. People that don't ask questions, and that rely on their own brainpower, often make mistakes, and mistakes carry a big price tag.

By the way,  I can arrange for you to meet the Chairman of the Board at your convenience - you can pick the time and the place. You can even call Him by his nickname - "Hashem". Best wishes for your success, Lazer Brody

A Signed Check by Rebbe Eliezer the Great

We've heard quite a bit recently about the dangers the people of Israel face. Rav Shalom Arush told us to turn to Hashem with more emuna and prayer, for there's no other solution than raising our voice to Heaven.

One of the greatest of our Tannaim (Mishnaic sages, 1st - 2nd Century CE) was Rebbe Eliezer the son of Horkonus, or Eliezer the Great. Rebbe Eliezer promises: "Anyone who engrosses himself in Pereq Shira every day - I bear witness that he is destined for the World-to-Come, and is delivered from calamity, and from the Evil Inclination, and from severe judgment, and from the Satan, and from all types of evil and destruction..." (introduction, Perek Shira).

What could be a better signed check than being delivered from all calamity, Evil Inclination, and destruction? Who can give you a better life and homeowner's policy for 10-12 minutes a day?

Emuna Outreach and the Beams are pleased to take away anybody's excuse that they don't have Perek Shira; here are our free downloads, which also include the Tikkun Klali:

Perek Shira in Hebrew

Perek Shira in English

May The Almighty grant you all your heart's wishes for the very best!

Ancient Laws - are they relevant?

Dear Rabbi Lazer,

How do you respond to someone who questions the relevancy of ancient Torah laws to modern day living, i.e. Laws of Kosher, The Sabbath, etc. All the best, You are doing great work, SL from Rockville, MD.

Dear SL,

Nobody doubts that the head engineer of Harley-Davidson knows what's better for a motorcycle engine than anyone else does. If you own a Harley, you're ridiculous not to heed every single clause of the owner's manual. Why? The head engineer wrote that manual; he designed the bike, and knows what's best for it. So if he says, change oil and spark plugs every so-many miles, you'd better listen, or else you won't get maximum performance from your machine.

The same goes for the soul...

Hashem - The Almighty - designed the human soul. If you want maximum performance, you have to fulfill the recommendations of the owner's manual - that's the Torah. Since we are incapable of understanding the spiritual fiber of our own souls, we are also incapable of knowing what's good for the soul. Only the manufacturer - Hashem - knows what's good for the soul, and that's none other than the 613 ancient commandments mentioned in the Torah and elaborated upon in the Talmud and Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law).

Jews have a unique spiritual makeup - the neshama kedusha - that requires observance of 613 commandments. Otherwise, certain damages will be done to that highly delicate and ever so intricate soul. When a person fails to keep kosher for example, his or her soul acquires a coating of impurity that blocks out Divine light. A person who doesn't see or feel Divine light can forget about emuna and spirituality. Lack of spirituality manifests itself in bodily sicknesses, anger, anxiety, stress, and depression, just to name a few.

Yes, the laws are ancient, but so are our souls. The body lasts for 80 or 90 years if you're lucky, but the soul is eternal. We observe the ancient laws for the benefit of our souls, so that we can always be close to Hashem.

With blessings always, Lazer

First, Be Friends

During the Jewish wedding and each festive meal of the subsequent seven festive days, we bless the bride and the groom, Sameach Tesamach Re'im ahuvim, "Be happy and rejoice, friends and lovers!" At a superficial glance, this blessing seems odd. If the young couple are lovers, then why say friends? Isn't that superfluous? The answer is simple. In order to be lovers, you have to be friends first. In fact, friendship is the foundation upon which a true and lasting relationship is built.

How does friendship manifest itself in a marriage? When you have a good friend, you enjoy spending time together. A husband's attention to his wife, walking together, dining together (not with the newspaper or TV, but with your partner), and especially learning together are superb expressions of friendship. Any act that constitutes a statement of, "I want to be with you!" is a beautiful compliment that warms the heart and cements a relationship. This type of friendship is a prerequisite to love.

Those couples who work on their friendship do a much better job of weathering the days of physical separation during the monthly cycle of Jewish family purity. Even more, during the clean days, a normal woman is disgusted by the mere thought of physical contact if it's not preceded by friendship and love. Friendship is great for the body and the soul. Shabbat takes on an entirely new dimension when a husband and wife learn the laws of Shabbat together. Nothing is more intimate - and healthy - than a husband and wife taking a long walk together and sharing each others secrets. When you make friendship a priority in your marriage, then your relationship will blossom like the Spring flowers.